Business has picked up in the bidding for Transatlantic Holdings since the New York-based reinsurer and Allied World Assurance called off their proposed merger, as Transatlantic says it has entered into two confidentiality agreements: one with Validus Holdings and one with an undisclosed third party.

Workers compensation lost-time claims increased 3 percent last year, the first increase in such claims since 1997, the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. reports today.

State Farm says it has paid policyholders $5 billion so far due to weather-related catastrophes, and the Bloomington, Ill.-based insurer says 2011 is likely to be one of the companys busiest years on record for catastrophe losses.